Trinity University scores EU funding first
Trinity University College, soon to merge with the University of Wales Lampeter to create the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, is the first university in Wales to secure funding from the £34 million EU Convergence Fund.
Its successful million pound bid was for two projects aimed at assisting work-based learners to gain accreditation of prior learning and credit for mentoring colleagues.
The LATERAL project aims to support those in work to identify and gain credit for their own experiential learning through the accreditation of prior learning (APEL).
Dr Elsie Reynolds, LATERAL Project Manager and Senior Lecturer, said: “Few employers and employees currently seek accreditation for the learning that they do in their workplace even though they often undertake higher level staff development activities.
"We can add value to this learning by relating it to the requirements of traditional courses in subject specific areas which will benefit learners and their employers and will also provide a forum to support employers in their own work-based training activities.”
The LATERAL project acknowledges the skills, abilities and knowledge of employees which they may have applied elsewhere or learned in a different context. Participants can achieve accreditation of prior learning which can form part of a qualification such as a certificate, diploma, degree or even postgraduate degree in Professional Practice.
There will be clear routes for progression identified within the project and learners will be advised of all opportunities by their academic adviser.
Dr Reynolds continued: “This project develops an innovative, quality assured approach to the APEL, promotes lifelong learning and professional development in the learner and enables the employer to improve the adaptability of their workforce. Accreditation of prior learning will enhance the learning experience and could also identify specific areas for the further development of the individual.
"It will also reintroduce the workforce to learning and thus widen the participation of non-traditional learners making further learning more accessible.”
The second project ‘Mentoring our Workforce’, is designed to identify and train appropriate members of staff in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to act as work-based mentors.
“One of the criticisms levied at work-based training is a perceived lack of communication between the learner, the training provider and the employer”, said Nick Samuel, Project Manager and Workforce Development Teaching Fellow at Trinity.
“By developing the mentoring skills of mentors, the project will hopefully overcome this difficulty. This work-based training will automatically necessitate an on-going three way relationship that will ensure that both the individual learner and the company needs are recognised, and responded to. Too often, those asked to undertake a mentoring role have little or no training in how to mentor. This project will deliver accredited training in the workplace for the mentor, at no cost to the employer. I believe this to be a win-win for all involved.”
These schemes will be free to participants and are offered in both English and Welsh.
For further details of these projects, contact:- Dr Elsie Reynolds on 01267 676750 or e-mail e.reynolds@drindod.ac.uk, or Nick Samuel on 01267 676654, or e-mail n.samuel@trinity-cm.ac.uk.
Its successful million pound bid was for two projects aimed at assisting work-based learners to gain accreditation of prior learning and credit for mentoring colleagues.
The LATERAL project aims to support those in work to identify and gain credit for their own experiential learning through the accreditation of prior learning (APEL).
Dr Elsie Reynolds, LATERAL Project Manager and Senior Lecturer, said: “Few employers and employees currently seek accreditation for the learning that they do in their workplace even though they often undertake higher level staff development activities.
"We can add value to this learning by relating it to the requirements of traditional courses in subject specific areas which will benefit learners and their employers and will also provide a forum to support employers in their own work-based training activities.”
The LATERAL project acknowledges the skills, abilities and knowledge of employees which they may have applied elsewhere or learned in a different context. Participants can achieve accreditation of prior learning which can form part of a qualification such as a certificate, diploma, degree or even postgraduate degree in Professional Practice.
There will be clear routes for progression identified within the project and learners will be advised of all opportunities by their academic adviser.
Dr Reynolds continued: “This project develops an innovative, quality assured approach to the APEL, promotes lifelong learning and professional development in the learner and enables the employer to improve the adaptability of their workforce. Accreditation of prior learning will enhance the learning experience and could also identify specific areas for the further development of the individual.
"It will also reintroduce the workforce to learning and thus widen the participation of non-traditional learners making further learning more accessible.”
The second project ‘Mentoring our Workforce’, is designed to identify and train appropriate members of staff in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to act as work-based mentors.
“One of the criticisms levied at work-based training is a perceived lack of communication between the learner, the training provider and the employer”, said Nick Samuel, Project Manager and Workforce Development Teaching Fellow at Trinity.
“By developing the mentoring skills of mentors, the project will hopefully overcome this difficulty. This work-based training will automatically necessitate an on-going three way relationship that will ensure that both the individual learner and the company needs are recognised, and responded to. Too often, those asked to undertake a mentoring role have little or no training in how to mentor. This project will deliver accredited training in the workplace for the mentor, at no cost to the employer. I believe this to be a win-win for all involved.”
These schemes will be free to participants and are offered in both English and Welsh.
For further details of these projects, contact:- Dr Elsie Reynolds on 01267 676750 or e-mail e.reynolds@drindod.ac.uk, or Nick Samuel on 01267 676654, or e-mail n.samuel@trinity-cm.ac.uk.
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